After alot of confusion about the 8bits/channel, 16bits/channel, 32bits/channel, and RAW color modes in photoshop, I finally figured it out, and decided to make an illustration to show how I've understood it.

This is NOT suppose to be a complete explanation of everything related to bit depth and channels, it's only an explanation of the bit depths in photoshop in relation to each other!

Remember, 8 bit, 16 bit, and 32 bit images are NUMBER OF BITS PER CHANNEL! There are basically 3 channels in an RGB image, so that's like 24 bit, 48 bit, 96 bit respectively. That is because one term describes the number of bits per channel, while the other describes the number of bits per pixel. 32 bit often refers to 24 bit, though 32 bit is actually 8 bits per channel, with an extra "alpha" channel (for transparency).

Notes: I based the 16 bit, which is kind of the key here, on experience in Photoshop, 16 bit might be different in other applications, and for other file formats (Like TIFF I think).

Also, I call RAW 12 bit, that is because in most cases RAW image files contain 12 bits of information per channel. RAW differs between camera manufacturers and camera models, so they work in very different ways. Some RAW files are 10 bit, or 14 bit. No "ordinary" camera can output more than 14 bits though.

I think you've confused as many people as you've enlightened....<br/><br/>-- Why is the 16 bits / channel bar graph the same size as the 8 bits / channel graph? (and the 12 bits / channel graph <em>much</em> bigger than both?)<br/><br/>-- You should emphasize the difference between <strong>total color resolution</strong> and <strong>bits / channel.</strong> The designations of <em>8 bit</em>, <em>16 bit</em>, <em>24 bit</em> and <em>32 bit</em> <strong>color</strong> have been used for a long time, and all refer to 8 bits / channel (color) RGB (plus an 8 bit alpha channel for 32 bit color.) <br/><br/>-- Bits / channel is only part of the story. What about color space? --RGB (3 channels), CMYC (4 channels), LAB (3 channels)....etc.<br/><br/>-- Raw isn't limited to 12 bits / channel. Raw is just .... raw data. Some digital cameras have 14 bits / channel. And a 12 bit resolution image can be expanded (or compacted) to fit any channel--sure, it doesn't contain any more <em>real</em> data, but there isn't much point of converting to a 16 bit channel without that expansion (compacting (12 -&gt; 8 bits) would discard data....) So no contrast is lost, but the full range of intermediate gradation isn't utilized on a larger channel.<br/><br/>-- Anytime you add a masking layer, you add another channel (an alpha channel.)<br/><br/>This stuff isn't too complex:<br/><br/>-- Bits per channel == # of bits used to represent each component in a color space (RGB or other color space)<br/><br/>-- Total colors == highest # that can be represented by that # of bits (unless it's floating point, which is a different animal.)<br/>

The whole point is that the 16 bit color space has the same range as the 8 bit, but with higher resolution per tone... that's why it's the same size, because white in 8 bit is white in 16 bit. In 12 bit you can change the exposure. Mean that what is white at one exposure might be white in a higher exposure, or it might be grey. All depends on exposure, like when taking pictures.
This isn't suppose to be a complete explanation on color spaces, this is just to illustrate the differences between the bit depths you encounter in photoshop (Which should be pretty obvious) The only reason I included the 8/16/32bit-24/48/96bit explanation was because I found that alot of people, when discussing these color depth topics often get confused.
Raw is generally 12 or 14 bit, at least for digital cameras (like, you know, the ones that spit out the version of raw data we work with here...) BUt yea, I forgot the note that RAW isn't fixed to 12 bit, but can also be 14, or 10 bit.
And I don't see how masking(/alpha) has anything to do with this either, because as I said, this is not "the basic guide to bit depth and channels".

<em>At least</em> include the word &quot;channel&quot; in the title, since (as I said), the terms 8/16/32 bit have been used to describe color spaces/total color res for 12 - 15 years....That <em>alone</em> is cause for much confusion.<br/><br/>But it looks like you clarified much of the text, anyway.<br/><br/>I'd like to comment in more depth, but I gotta go photograph some chump who runs one of those corporate touchy-feely seminars...<br/>

Well congratulations. And hope my explanation of RAW tone range vs. 16 bit (per channel) tone range could help you a bit with your photography hobby, or whatever it is...

Sorry. I've been a professional photographer for over 20 years (with a degree in photo illustration.) And I've also taught photography at both the high sch (private school) and the college level (including Photoshop.)
But a resume isn't a valid argument (neither is ignorance.) Personally, I don't care for your tone. Since I don't have anything nice to say, I'm done here....

Nice to know you're finally done, because to be honest, I think you brought some good C&C to my slide, but your tone really sucks.
It seams like you think you can smear on a fat layer of ignorance because of your experience, and that pisses me off, because you don't even seam to care that I put both time and efford in creating this illustration so other people can avoid the confusion I've had.
So yea, I might have been answering you in a harsh tone, but that's because it's the tone you deserve to be answered in...

Yes, no more comments about this (although my original comments still stand, and are accurate.) But good luck anyways....if you choose photography as a profession.

Where does this correction apply? Please note that it's all "Bit PER CHANNEL"...

what?

Unless you do photo editing, this isn't really relevant :)

oh, lol, i wasnt sure... i do photo editing, but its nothing intense... hehe, i wont even bother trying to understand...

Fair enough :) Else I've provided an explanation further down in the comments, but I don't know if it will make it any clearer, or just confuse you more :(

i took a look at it, and... i dont get it, lol, i only part i understand is "255 is a binary # for 111111" but u dont even say it in there:P

Quotes that I want to say:<br/><br/><em>gamer: what?</em><br/><em>randofo: This stuff confuses the heck out of me.</em><br/><br/>But wow, that looks really complicated, amazing how you know this... I would probably go insane trying to do this kind of stuff.<br/><br/>Nice job! :P<br/>

It's really not that bad, once you get used to the fact that all color values are numbers :)
I just imagine each channel as a container with liquid in.
Lets say each "level" is 1 gallon.
So you have a container which can contain 255 gallons of water, and you have a 1 gallon bowl to add or remove water with (which you have to fill completely each time ;) ) So you can only have like, 100 gallons, 120 gallons, 205 gallons etc. but no more than 255 gallons, and no 102,5 or 200,1 gallons.
That is 8 bit mode.
Now for 16 bit mode.
You have the same 255 gallon container, but now the bowl is 1/256 gallon.
So now you can have more "bowls per container", because each bowl is smaller, so you have more resolution. Now you're not limited to whole gallons, but can choose any amount in steps of 1/256 of a gallon.
You can however, STILL only have 255 gallons total.
For 12 bit mode, you have a 1 gallon bowl again, but you have a much bigger 4095 gallon container. Now, if you fill this 1/16, you have just the amount of water to completely fill your 255 gallon container.
The 255 gallon container can contain any 255 gallons of the 4095 gallons, but still only 255 of them.
Hope that made it any more clear :) Terrible explanation though :( Right?
And you might be confused by me shifting between 255 and 256, but that's because you have 256 options with the 255 gallon container, since completely empty is also an option :)

This stuff confuses the heck out of me. I've been currently messing around with C++ doing jpg image analysis and I'm up to my neck in bits and bytes.

It's just about how many actual colours there are, using a few of the different save options in photoshop, bringing up the save previewer can really show you a simple explanation, try saving for web to see a simple representation on 256 colours ie: an 8 bit image...

Yea well, didn't really bring 8 bit here... Seams kind of outdated for anything but GIF's...
Anyway, your comments seam kind of "floaty"... I never really get the point in them...

Oh by the way I just writing that instructable on the better low noise imagery...

Awesome :) Looking forward to it ;)

I was using the gif previewer as an example but you can change the colour modes in the middle of working and see the differences, sorry about being vague I'm not always that good at writing unless I plan it like an instructable or some such...
Point was simply that you can actually view the minor differences, though almost invisible to the eye until you get down to lower qualities. The reason I mentioned the saving for web previewer is is has a chart with all the colours in it and you can go between 256 and 2 colours. It only take a small leap of the mind to think if each of the 256 colours in the chart were to represent 256 colours you'd be seeing a 16 bit channel... sorry I have real trouble explaining leaps I make in my own head...

Well, any questions, just ask, and I'll TRY to help you the best I can :)